THERE are hundreds of reasons to be cheerful for youngsters at Fair Oak Junior School, and its latest Ofsted report has added to the smiles on the faces around the school.

The 550-pupil school has been given glowing praise by inspectors for the second time in a row.

It was graded as “outstanding”

in all bar two of the 27 inspection criteria – pupil attendance and the school’s contribution to community cohesion – which were both given the next-best rank of “good”.

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Inspectors praised education standards and the curriculum used, opportunities given to youngsters through the “huge range of exciting activities”, teachers’ abilities and their relationship with pupils, and the promotion of children’s development and wellbeing.

“At all times, pupils were being independent and highly motivated,” they wrote in their report.

“This desire to do well is instilled in pupils because staff are zealous in their attention to detail in recognising what each pupil wants and needs.

“Pupils know they have to work hard to be given this independence, and they do.”

Thrilled head teacher Jinty Williamson said she was delighted the school had kept up the good work found at its last inspection, three years ago.

“It felt we only had one direction to go really, but it’s great to be able to show the community we’ve sustained that level,” she said.

“We have worked very hard to make the curriculum more personal and interesting for the pupils, and they must have told the inspectors it is that, so it’s confirmation we’re doing a good job.”

Click here to read the full report